Car-coupling.



PATENTED MAY 29, 190e.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

- c DIETZ GAR GOUPLING. APPLICATION FILED DEU. 5, 1903.

No. 821,789. PATENTBD MAY 29, 1906.

' c. METZ.v

GAR COUPLING.

APPLIOATIO FILED DBO. 5, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'zen of the United States,

Inarran sTATns PATENT rrion.

CHARLES DI'IZ, 0F, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLHNG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 29, 1906.

application filed December 1903' Smal No' 183959 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES; Dmrz, a citiresiding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State bf Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that ciass of carcouplers known as twin-jaw couplers of the Master Car-Builders type, and particularly to the construction and arrangement by tion; Fig. 5, a simi lwhich the coupling parts are locked, released, and unlocked, all of which will more fullyv hereinafter appear.

The principal object 'of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient car-coupler of the twin-jaw type, with means for locking, unlocking, and swinging the couplin -knuckle to its open position.

ther and further objects of the vinvention will appear from an examination of the drawings and the following description and claims.

The invention consists principally in a c coupler of the there are combined a coupler-head, a coupling knuckle pivotally mounted therein, means for locking the knuckle `in coupling or closed position, and means for releasing and swinging the knuckle to lopen position.

The invention consists, further and fl'mally, in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a portion of a car-frame and coupler as it appears when constructed in accordancewith these improvements; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional elevation, taken on line 2 of Fig. 4, showing the parts in'locked position 3 Fig. 3, a similar view showing the rock-shaft in its second position and as having moved the locking-pin .to release position and the coupling-knuckle to open position; Fig. 4, a plan sectional view taken on line 4 of Fig. 2 looking lthe direction of the arrow and'showinor the parts in locked posiar view showing-the arts in open lposition; Fig. 6, a longitudina sectional e evation of the coupler -Aheadv and other parts, taken on line 6 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 a lon itudinal'sectional elevation taken on line 7 o Fig. 5.

In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that it is ver)T desirable to provide some means of raising and 'holding a locking-pin of this Atype of car-coupler in re- Athose skille class referred to, in which.

the knuckle, so that should the l lease position and, further, that it is Inot only desirable. but, indeed, necessar to provide some means for swinging t e couplingknuckle to open position which willnot require the presence of a switchman or trainman between the cars. To accomplish these results, this invention is particularly designed.

In constructin a car-coupler in accordance with these lmprovements vI provide a draw-bar a of any usual construction, which is mounted in position on the end of a freightcar b in any ordinary manner, as shown particularly in Fig. 1. This draw-bar is provided with the usual coupler-head c of what is known as the twin-jaw of Master Car- Builders ty e, a type which is well known to i d) in the art and has been adopted bv the Master Car-Builders The coupler-head is provided with a knuckle d, pivotally mounted in the space between the upper and lower usual pivot-pin e. .The knuckle portion is provided with an L-shaped tail portion which is adapted when in closed position to extend outl through a erforation g in the associatlon.

walls thereof and on the'- y side wall of the coupleread. The forward l wall, which assists in forming this perforation, is4 L-shaped, as at thickened so as to project beyond the usual side wall of the head and is L-shaped on its inner surface to correspond with the tail 4of ivot-pin break the pulling strains would e transferred directly from such pinto the couplerhead until the train was stop ed, thus averting disaster to the train an 'injury to the employees.

. To provide means for holding and locking the knuckle in closed position, a locking-pin i is provided and movably mounted in perforations in the upper and lower walls of the coupler-head, so as to be capable of movement in a vertical plane. T iis locking-pin is further arranged to abut against a retailiing wall or lug y on the interior of the head, so that as the tail of the coupling-knuckle contacts the body portion of the locking-pin it forces it against this lu,or or retaining-wall and transfers the strainirectly, relatively speaking, to an immovable body capable of withstanding a large amount of" stress and strains.

,It is desirable to provide means for mov'invF s this coupling-pin to release .position` an h. In other words, it is IOO- o accomplish thisfa two-part rockshaft is provided and pivotally secured together at k. One part, of this rock-shaft 1s rotatably mounted in bearings m on the under surface of the coupler-head and is provided with a cam or eccentric portion n, adapted to contact or engage with the lower art of the locking-pin, as shown partlcuarly in Iig. 7, so that during the rotary movement of the rock-shaft it will be moved to release osition, as shown in said figure. The secon portion, p, of this twoart rocksliaft is rotatably mounted in a racket or arm g on the end sill of the car-frame, so that the rock-shaft is partially mounted on the cou ler-head and partially von the framewor of the car. This rock-shaft, as seen in these gures, has a limited movement in a longitudinal direction-that is, in a direction parallel with its aXis-and is provided with an L-shaped prong 1', extending laterally f therefrom and so arranged that as the rockshaft is swung in one direction it raises the locking- 1n to release positlon and its prong is broug t into alinement with the exposed portion ofv the L-shaped tail of the cou lerknuckle. In this position the rock-s aft may be pushed inwardly (the knuckle now being unlocked) and swing the couplingknuckle to open position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.v

Ahelical coil-spring t is arranged between the cam portion of the rock-shaft and one of its bearings, so as to force and normally hold the rock-shaft at its outer limit of motion. lThis rock-shaft is further provided at its eX- treme outer end, which is at one side of the car, with an operating-handle u. This handle may be provided with a weight e, which lng it at its lower limit of motion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

To provide means that will hold the locking-pin in i.ts locking position and against displacement-tl1at is, against raising to release position-and that wi l also hold 1t in its release position until the necessary coupling action takes place-the lookin -pin is provided with a lower perforate portion w, which I prefer to term a yoke7 portion, and through which the cam shaft 1s passed. This yo e portion is pinned to the lower edge of the coupling-pin, so that it may be readily removed or replaced whenever desirable or necessary.

When the parts are in their locking position, as shown in Fig. 6, it will be seen that the cam portion 'n prevents the raising or unlocking movement or the pin, and as the weight of the parts tends to keep the cam portion in the position shown, it will be readily seen that no amount of shocks or jars will affect the locking-pin. It will also be seen that when the cam portion has raised the locking-.pin to release position it is also in positionto prevent the dropping of said lockingassists in throwing the rock-shaft to and hold-l portion ofthe rockpin until the coupling action takes place or until the operator throws the handle a to its down position. p

The principal advantages incident to a carcoupler constructed in accordance with these improvements are, first, that the lockingin may be operated and the coupling-knuc le released and swung to open position at any time without requiring the resence of a trainman between the cars; an ,second', that the parts are-so constructed and arranged that no unlocking of the locking-pin is likely to take place until the operator swings the rock-shaft lever to its upper position, all of which will-be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. l

I claim- 1. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination of a coupler-head, a coupling-knuckle pivotally mounted therein, a

vertically-arranged and movable locking-pink for holding and locking the coupling-knuckle in closed naled in t e coupling-head for moving the pin to release position and locking it in locked position, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination of a coupler-head, a coupling-knuckle pivotally mounted therein, a vertically-arran ed and movable locking-pin for holding and Iocking the coupling-knuckle in closed position, ayoke portion on said coupling-pin, and a rock-shaft provided. with a cam portion passed through said yoke portion for moving the in to release position and locking 1t in loc ed position, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination of a coupler-head, a coupling-knuckle pivotally mounted therein, a locking-pin for holding and locking the coupling-knuckle in closed position, a yoke portion removably secured to the lower part of the coupling-pin, and a lrock-shaft provided with a cam portion passed through the yoke portion and having a rotary and longitudinal movement for moving the locking-pin to release position, lockingit in locked position and swinging the coupling-knuckle to open position, substantially as described.

4. In a car-coupler oi' the class described, the combination of a coupler-head, a coupling-knuckle pivotally mounted therein, a vertically-movable locking-pin, means comprising a single rock-shaft for moving the locking-pin to locking andl releasing positions and for swinging the knuckle to open position, and means for locking the locking-pin in releasing and locking positions.

5. In a .car-coupler of the class described,

the combination of a coupler-head, a coupling-knuckle pivotally mounted therein, a vertically-arranged and movable locking-pin vfor holding and locking the coupling-knuckle 1n closed position, and a rock-shaft having a 1position, and a rock-shaft jour- IIO during its longtudinal movement, substantially as descri ed.

9. na car-coupler oi therclass, described, the combination of a coupler-head provided rota and longitudinal movement and adapted to operatively engage the couplingknuckle ior moving the pin to releaseosi...

tion and swin ing the coupling-knuc e to open osition, substantiall as described. with an opening or erforation in its side wall 6. n a car-coupler of t e class described, and an L-sha d wall on such side portion the combination o a coupler-head, a couplerforming one o the Walls to said perforation knuckle pivotally mounted therein, a? vertiyor opening, a coupling-knuckle pivotally call -movable locki -pin for'holding 1and mountedin the coupler-head and provided locking the coulnguckle in closed posi- With an L-sha ed tail .portion extending tion, and a rock-shaft jQurnaled-in he coupthrough the e oration ot the side Wall of the ling-head having a rotary and longitudinal coupler-hea and adapted to en age the l..- movement engaging with the'loc 'Y -pin atsha wall there a vertical y-arranged the lower portion thereof for raising t e same an movable =.locking-pin `for l,holding the to release position during lits rotary mov'ecouplinx-knuckle locke `in closed position, a' ment and'swinging the -coupling-knuck le to longtu 'nally-movable rock-shaft partially a' vided With a tail l head and swing it to open I the combination of a 'coupler-head provide A. the locking-pin and move the4 same to release ment, substantially as tact the tail of the mounte open position during its lo descri e 7. ln a car-coupler of the class described, the combination of a coupler-head provi with an openin in its si elwall, acou lingknuckle pivota y mounted therein an proportienextending back and adjacent to' the perforation in the side Wv l of the Vcdupler-head, avertically arrange and movable locking-pin for locking and holding the :coupling-knuckle in closed position, arock-shaft journaled in the couplingea having a rotary itudinal movement and long for moving the locking-pm to release osition durinor its rotary tudinal move- -tion of the1 car-trame pivotally secure tpgether 'and adapted to 'move the locking-*pin* to release 'p ing its rotary movement and swing the coupling-knuckle to open position during its longitudinal movement, substantially as escribed. i 4

10. ln a car-coupler oi the classdescribed, the combination oi a. coupler-head provide with an opening or perforation in its side wall and an L-shape Wall on such side portion "forming one ofthe Walls to said perforation or opening, 'a coupling-knuckle pivotally mounted in the couplin --head and provided with an L-sha ed tai portion extending through the e eration ofthe side wall or the coupler-hea and ada ted' toengage t e t.- shaped Wall thereof, a oc'kinG-pin 'for holding the coupling-knuckle ocke in closed position, a longitudinally movable rockshaft with an opening or erforation in its side vi partially mounted in the coupler-head and wall and an L-s a e wallon such side poron the car-frame and extending out to the tion forming one o the Walls to said perforaside portion oi made in tion or o e a cou lin -knuckle pivotally two parts pivotally secured together to move in t e coup eread and provided the locking-pin to release position during its with an L-shaped tail portion extending rotar movement and swing the couplingthroughvthe perforation of the side wall of knuclile to open position during its longitudithe coupler-head land adaptedlto engage the nal movement, and spring mechanism 1for motion and ada te tofconcou ler-knuc e through the perforation in the si e Wall ofthe couplerposit'ion during its longitudinal'movement, substantially as descri ed.

8. In a car-coupler of the class' described,

L-shaped wall thereof, a vertically-arrange moving and normally holding the rock-s nait and movable lockingin Jor hol the at its outer limit of longitudinal movement as described.

CHARES -knuckle locke in closed position, a substantially couplin y lon ltu inally-movable.rock-shaft journaled @Tn-Z in t e coupling-head arranged to engage with i i# l I Witnesses:

TnoMAs' F. Sinsemilia,

d to

ANNIE C. Confirmar.

movementl an position during its rotary position the coupler-knuckle to open lmounted on the coupler-head and partially in' Y 

